Cancer research support rally to be held at depot

STANDISH — As part of a nationwide collaborative, area supporters of cancer research will rally at the Standish Historical Depot Saturday, Sept. 24.

Spokesperson Betsy Ledbetter said the rally will celebrate 10 years of the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network (CAN), a cancer advocacy program. It will also be a sendoff for local people traveling to Washington, D.C., in an effort to lobby Congress not to cut federal funding for cancer research.

“CAN has been helping save lives for a decade now,” she said. “We just want our legislature to know that cutting funding for cancer research will be a negative for everyone.”

According to a press release from the American Cancer Society, deaths from cancer have declined in the U.S. since 1991, thanks in part to federal funding for cancer research. Cancer still is the number two killer in America, claiming 570,000 American lives each year.

Ledbetter said many local cancer survivors and caregivers say cancer research has benefited their lives.

“This year at Relay For Life (of Arenac County), we had people write down how cancer research has affected their lives,” she said. “One person wrote, ‘Because of cancer research, I am alive today.’ Another person said, ‘Because of cancer research, I got the chance to spend more time with my aunt.’”

Ledbetter said because so many people showed interest in cancer research, this rally needed to take place.

“This is something people care about,” she said. “It matters to people.”

Ledbetter encourages all cancer survivors to come out to the rally and show their support. She added that many state and national officials are looking to cut cancer research in order to cut national costs.

“I really feel like cancer research has proven that it is effective and has helped save lives,” she said.

The rally will take place from 1-3 p.m. at the depot, and will feature guest speakers and a musical performance from Devin and Yvette Chisholm.

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